 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 
|
|
 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Bar News - March 17, 2006 NHBA Board of Governors Candidates in 2006-07 Election
President-Elect Eleanor Wm. Dahar graduated from Boston College Law School in 1987 and was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1988. She practices with the law firm of Victor W. Dahar, P.A. in Manchester. She is the current NHBA Vice-President; she has also served as Secretary of the NHBA and has served a three-year term as an at-large member of the Board of Governors. Dahar is also a member of the NH Bar Foundation Board of Directors, a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the American Bar Associations and the American Bankruptcy Institute. For the past five years, I have served on the Board of Governors of the New Hampshire Bar Association, first as a Governor-at-Large and then as Secretary and this past year as Vice-President. During the past year, I have had the opportunity to travel to county and city bar meetings around the state and meet with many of you. I have enjoyed your hospitality and your friendship. I also have had the opportunity to speak with you directly about your issues concerning our bar association and the changes facing our profession. It has been an educational experience, providing me with considerable insight. I will continue to attend bar meetings around the state. It is my intention to meet as many of our members as possible, to keep you informed about the Bar Association and how it is relevant to you as a member and more importantly how it will continue to be relevant to its members. It continues to be important to me that your interests, the concerns of the practicing attorney, be represented on the Bar Association Board of Governors. The practice of law is changing and we must continue to work to preserve the best of the traditions of the New Hampshire practitioner but also act to improve the Bar Association to better serve the needs of our members and the public we serve. This past year, the Work Survey Group Committee has reviewed your survey responses and is using them to create and promote programs through the Bar that ease the stress on practitioners whether it is through expanding CLE options or providing greater Bar Association support to Bar members directly. It is apparent that the future of the Association is vital to its members and to the public it serves. It is up to us to ensure that the Association maintains both a presence and serves a need in the community, and continues to provide services to the membership and the public. I pledge myself to these tasks. Ellen L. Arnold Vice-President Ellen L. Arnold currently serves as Associate General Counsel for Dartmouth College. Her practice focuses on the areas of land use planning and zoning, environmental law, construction contracting, disability law, and student affairs. Prior to joining Dartmouth College in 2001, Arnold was a litigation partner at McLane, Graf Raulerson, & Middleton, P.A. where her practice included representation of public and private clients in land use, environmental, and government regulatory matters. She has also served as special counsel to Governor Judd Gregg and as legal counsel for the New Hampshire State Senate. Arnold is the Special Justice of the Henniker District Court and a Grafton County Family Division Justice. She received her B.A. degree in government from Skidmore College and her J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center. She has served on the Board of the New Hampshire Women ‘s Bar Association and is a current member of the Board of the New Hampshire Bar Foundation, co-chair of the New Hampshire Bar Association Work-Life Creed Committee and a member of the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s Commission on the Status of the Legal Profession. In the past year we have continued to see evolutionary change in the practice of law in New Hampshire. The desire to create a more responsive and less adversarial system has resulted in more frequent court-ordered and voluntary alternative dispute resolution. The cost of legal services and the misunderstanding of the value lawyers add to the process have resulted in increased pro se appearances. On the other hand, lawyers are being called to provide pro bono services for those with basic needs and rights at stake. Young lawyers in particular struggle with obligations of debt and many lawyers feel the stress and pressure of 24/7 availability, billable hour commitments, and competition on a regional and national basis. Under the circumstances, it’s no wonder that there are recurring questions of how the practice stays relevant and how we, as lawyers, enjoy a high quality of life and level of practice. I am seeking the opportunity to serve as Vice President of the New Hampshire Bar Association to be part of the challenging work of answering those questions and making a positive difference for my colleagues in the New Hampshire Bar. I have participated in the Bar Association for many years. Just in the last year I have had the opportunity to serve on the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s Commission on the Status of the Legal Profession, to participate in the New Hampshire Bar Association’s fall conference on Commanding Our Future, and I have recently been appointed to co-chair the Work-Life Creed Committee of the Bar Association. Through this work, as well as through the other varied aspects of my professional life, I believe I have developed a better understanding of the issues facing the profession and the role the Bar Association can take to improve the delivery of legal services, the vibrancy of the profession, and hopefully to enhance the quality of life and practice for its members. Some concerns expressed by members can be addressed by the Association: expanded and more affordable CLEs, particularly on issues related to the provision of pro bono service and law practice management. The Bar Association can also work actively to educate the public about our system of justice and the value and contributions of members of the Bar. But there is also a role for the Bar Association to work in conjunction with the courts to make the delivery of legal services more efficient, timely, and predictable withoutsacrificing the quality of justice. Some suggestions include streamlining court processes through increased use of telephonic hearings, reduction in filings, clarification and improvement of communications involving pro se litigants, increased reliability in scheduling, and consideration of specialized courts or different tracks for resolution of cases, depending upon their nature and complexity. The Bar Association plays an integral role in addressing these concerns and providing services to its members which enhance our personal and professional lives. Serious efforts are underway already to promote and enhance the relevance of our profession to the demands of our current society. I am committed to addressing these challenges and the opportunities they present for the practice of law in New Hampshire. Gretchen L. Witt Secretary A graduate of Boston University School of Law, Gretchen Witt joined the NH Bar in 1987. Since 1991, she has been Chief of the Civil Division of the US Attorney’s Office, New Hampshire, with the exception of six months as the Attorney General-appointed and then court-appointed US Attorney for the District of NH. Witt was also a member of the US Attorney General’s Advisory from January 2003 to January 2005 and has been chair of the Civil Chiefs’ Working Group, an adjunct to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, since April, 2002 . She first joined the Department of Justice in 1982 and moved to NH in 1986. She is a member of numerous Bar and court committees As the current Secretary of the Bar Association, I am honored to have the opportunity to seek the position for a second time. It has been, and will remain, an interesting and vital time to participate in the leadership of this important voice for lawyers in New Hampshire. A number of efforts are underway to ensure both that the Bar Association is relevant to its members, and that lawyers and the practice of law remain relevant to our client base – the public. The Bar Association has been working with the various Commissions established by the New Hampshire Supreme Court, with the judiciary, and with its members to consider the difficulties faced by practitioners, by the courts, and by the clients in obtaining efficient and cost-effective justice in this state. The Bar Association intends to continue such work over the course of the next year. By remaining secretary of this nationally-recognized Bar Association, I hope to assist in those efforts. Moreover, as a government lawyer, I hope to continue presenting the concerns and views of the public sector to my fellow Board Governors. Too often in the past, those concerns of a large sector of the bar have gone largely unheard or unrecognized. Although, in my experience, the Board is careful to inform itself about the concerns of the disparate areas of New Hampshire practice, having representative voices on the Board significantly assists in ensuring those concerns are heard. For that reason, I believe that my candidacy will enhance the visibility of those disparate viewpoints, and I appreciate your willingness to give me that opportunity to serve. Robert R. Howard, III Treasurer Rob Howard, of the Rob Howard Law Office in Henniker, NH, graduated from Boston University with a J.D. in 1969 and was admitted to the NH Bar in 1969; he has been the NHBA Treasurer since 1993. He is also a member of the NHBA Finance Committee and the Technology Task Force; he has been a member of various NHBA sections and on faculty panels of a number of CLE’s. Rob is a former Merrimack County governor and governor-at-large on the NHBA Board of Governors, and is currently serving as Secretary of the NH Bar Foundation. He served nine years as a part-time District Court Judge. He was named the Merrimack County Lawyer of the Year in 1985, and was the recipient of the NHBA President’s Award for Outstanding Professionalism in 1996. He co-teaches the Law Practice Management session of the required Practical Skills course offered semi-annually to new admittees. As Treasurer, I try to keep the Board informed on financial issues, with able advice from Tom Manter, our Business Manager. I enjoy participating in Bar activities, and look forward to another year on the Board. Lisa A. Wellman-Ally Governor-at-Large Lisa Wellman-Ally graduated with a J.D. degree from Washington & Lee School of Law and was admitted to the bar in NH 2002, in VT in 2003 and to NY Bar in 1990. She is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association, New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Vermont Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the American Bar Association. Wellman-Ally is in private practice at Wellman-Ally Law PLLC, Claremont, NH. I have made the most of my 3 ½ years in New Hampshire, serving the last two as Sullivan County Governor. I have twelve years of practice in New York City behind me and have seen a lot about what can go wrong in a Bar Association. My general litigation practice takes me across the state into most counties and courts. This broad range of exposure enables me to see how the practice of law varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. One of my goals as a Governor-as-large is to help change the public’s perception of lawyers. There are many commissions and focus groups dealing with various aspects of the legal practice, but the public’s opinion of lawyers still remains very negative. As a bar association, I think it is important for us to express the value of lawyers in society—something that the Bar has been working on this year. I hope to continue to focus on public perception. I look forward to the privilege of representing members of the Bar and thank you for your support. Dorcas J. Gordon Belknap County Governor Dorcas J. Gordon graduated with a BA in English from Boston College in 1998. She earned her JD degree at the University of Connecticut School of Law, graduating in 2003 and was admitted to New Hampshire Bar and U.S. District Court for District of New Hampshire that same year. She is an Associate at Wescott, Millham & Dyer, LLP, Laconia, NH. Atty. Gordon lives in Bristol, NH and serves on the Town of Bristol Budget Committee; she is also a Commissioner on the Town of Bristol Historic District Commission and serves as Trustee of the Trust Funds for the Town of Bristol. In addition, she serves on Chief Justice Broderick’s Commission on the Status of the Legal Profession. New Hampshire attorneys need a strong, credible Bar Association that effectively serves the interests of its members. In the time that I have served on the Board of Governors, I have sought to contribute to the strength, credibility and effectiveness of the Bar by communicating the concerns of my Belknap County constituents, helping the Bar craft a positive message about the value of attorneys in our legal system, and generally offering my perspective as a young attorney practicing and living in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. If elected, I will continue to help the Bar understand and meet the needs of Belknap County practitioners, as well as assist the Bar in its efforts to benefit the legal profession on a statewide level. Donald M. Smith Carroll County Governor Donald M. Smith graduated from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1997 and was admitted to the New Hampshire and Maine Bars in 1998. He is an officer at Helme, Cole & Smith, P.C. in Ossipee, NH. His areas of practice are: Real Estate, Family Law, General Litigation. He is the current Carroll County Governor to the NHBA. It is hard to believe that it has been almost two years since I walked into the Carroll County Bar meeting at the Whittier House in Tamworth to find my name on a petition being circulated around the room for the position of Carroll County Governor to the NHBA. It would not be an understatement for me to say that at the time I was not particularly well versed on the role of the NHBA as it applies to its membership. Since joining the Board I have had the pleasure of discovering first-hand the active role that the NHBA plays in its pursuit of providing valuable services and support to its membership. Many lawyers are often so busy with their daily practice that it is difficult to stop and take stock of what is available to them as members of the NHBA. I would encourage all attorneys, especially young attorneys and solo practitioners, to spend some time exploring NHBA-based programs and materials regarding such topics as client relations, client referrals through Lawyer Referral Services, and the Law Office Management Library. In addition to the programs and services offered through the NHBA I believe that the NHBA serves two other important purposes. First, the NHBA is our collective face and voice as a profession for the public to see and hear. Second, the NHBA provides its members a vehicle to help maintain, improve and shape this profession that we have chosen. Again, it is easy to be consumed by your daily schedule and lose sight that this association is intended to benefit you as a member and at the same time reflect your profession. Therefore, if I am re-elected I encourage and welcome input from any and all attorneys regarding their thoughts, concerns and suggestions as to how the NHBA might improve the profession and how the NHBA might better serve you. I would be honored with your support for a second term. Jennifer L. Parent Hillsborough County North Governor Jennifer L. Parent is a director in the litigation department at McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, Manchester. She focuses her practice in the areas of commercial litigation, employment litigation, and land use litigation and is a member of the firm’s Business Law, Employment Law, Land Use, and School Law Practice Groups. Parent is a cum laude graduate of Boston College and summa cum laude graduate of Suffolk University Law School. She is also the 2003 recipient of the Bar Foundation’s Robert E. Kirby Award. A past President of the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association, Parent is also a member of the Manchester Bar Association, the Nashua Bar Association, and the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers’ Association. In addition, she is a member of the American Bar Association, where she is active in the Young Lawyer Division. I am running for re-election as the Hillsborough County North Governor of the New Hampshire Bar Association. I have enjoyed serving in this capacity over the past two years, and I would be honored to continue next term. I will continue to represent the interests of lawyers in the Northern District of Hillsborough County. As an active member of the New Lawyers Committee and the ABA Young Lawyers Division, I remain dedicated to increasing the involvement of newer lawyers in our Bar. I am also committed to making the Bar a productive organization for attorneys so that we may all meet the challenges facing the legal profession now and in the coming years. I remain open and available to all constituents to share any comments or concerns. Kevin P. Rauseo Hillsborough County South Governor Kevin P. Rauseo is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School and has been a member of the NH Bar since 1997. He is with the Hamblett & Kerrigan law firm in Nashua, NH. This is dynamic time for the legal profession, especially in New Hampshire. The issues that face the Bar are both exciting and challenging. With technological advances, the Bar will be able to continue to improve its service to clients and create a more streamlined and efficient judicial process. There are also significant challenges facing the Bar. Some people are calling for a change in the way the practice of law is regulated and conducted; [there are also] attempts to place limits in the recovery of civil judgments. Also, a drastic increase in pro se litigants has had a significant impact on both the Bench and the Bar. These are only a few of the challenges facing us in years to come. My practice allows me a perspective on many of these challenges and I can see how they presently impact the legal system. While understanding the constraints placed upon the Bar Association, I believe it can still be effectively utilized in the future as a bridge between our clients, the Legislature and the Judiciary. I would be honored to serve the Bar as a member of the Board of Governors and will strive to serve with honor and distinction. John M. Clothier Strafford County Governor John Clothier graduated with a BA from Yale University in 1997 and JD degree from FPLC in 2003. He was admitted to the NH Bar in 2003 and to practice in the U S District Court, District of New Hampshire the same year. He has a general practice in all courts, state and federal, with specific areas of practice in personal injury, criminal defense, family law, worker’s compensation, labor and employment law. He is with the law office of Leslie Johnson, Center Sandwich, NH and was associated formerly with Helme, Cole & Smith, P.C., in Ossipee, NH Clothier is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association. I am honored to be nominated to run for the office of Strafford County Governor for the NHBA Board of Governors. In my experience in the legal profession in this state, I have learned to appreciate its tradition of collegiality mixed with high ethical and professional standards. I believe that despite the varied demands we all face, we must, as bar members, strive to maintain that quality into the future. As the bar faces the pressures that growth, technology and a myriad of other factors are sure to bring, maintaining the traditions that make New Hampshire practice unique will require a unified effort. If given the opportunity to serve on the Board of Governors, I will offer my time, energy and perspective and I hope to represent and further the interests of the Strafford County Bar and the interests of New Hampshire’s legal profession as a whole. David N. Foley Sullivan County Governor David N. Foley is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a BA in 1982 and an MAT in 1986. He received his JD degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1991 and became a NH Bar member that same year. His experience includes: New Hampshire Public Defender, 1992-1996; solo practitioner, 1996-1997; Robert Howard Law Office, 1997-2002. Since 2002, he has been with State of NH, DHHS-DCYF, Claremont. I have had first-hand experience appreciating the work of the Bar Association through my service on the Law-Related Education Advisory Board in the 1990’s. I am a strong believer in the responsibility of lawyers to promote the practice of law as a worthy profession and to participate in citizenship education. As a representative on the Board of Governors, I would continue to support the NHBA’s citizenship education activities. I also believe that the Bar Association should continue to support the members’ efforts to provide pro bono legal services to the less fortunate, and to provide services at affordable rates to the entire community. I would be honored by your support. Russell F. Hilliard American Bar Association I have been a member of the New Hampshire Bar since 1976, and have practiced with the firm of Upton & Hatfield, LLP since 1980. I have held numerous positions in the New Hampshire Bar Association, serving as its President in 2003-2004. I ask for your vote to serve as the Delegate of the New Hampshire Bar Association to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. During my tenure as an officer of this Association, I have had the privilege of attending many national meetings, representing the New Hampshire Bar, and I have come to learn of the important activity conducted by the American Bar Association as it affects practicing lawyers in New Hampshire. If elected, I hope to continue in the tradition of making known the perspectives and views of New Hampshire lawyers, and to continue looking out for the interests of New Hampshire lawyers. |
|
Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store New Hampshire Bar Association |
